Saint John Paul II: Religious Freedom as the Foundation for All Forms of Freedom

The present essay aims to make an analysis of a widely analyzed theme held very dear to Pope Saint John Paul II, namely, the right to religious freedom as a foundation for all other forms of freedom. From the way this essay tackles this theme, it is not difficult to understand that John Paul II’s metaphysical view with regard to the human being, as well as his view on the subjectivity of the human person and the dignity of the human person, are essential for an accurate understanding of the relation between freedom and truth. Freedom is rooted in the truth, and it can be achieved only in truth. When it is separated from truth, it becomes just an illusion. For Pope John Paul II, it is very clear that freedom and truth either go together or perish together. The truth to which freedom is linked is not just an abstract truth, but is the Absolute Truth, namely God. Therefore, only in the light of this relationship between freedom and truth can the right to religious freedom, which is the heart of human rights, be explained. Religious freedom allows the human person to live in the truth of her/his faith, according to her/his transcendental dignity.